APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF OPTICAL DETECTION AND ANALYSIS OF AN OBJECT

摘要

An apparatus for detection and analysis of optical systems. Prior art system s exploit the phenomenon of photon scattering in order to range the distance o f objects from the ranging apparatus. However, no information other than the distance of the target object is obtained from such systems. There is therefore provided an apparatus that exploits the technique of single photon counting and the phenomenon of retro reflection to provide information about a target optical system. Such information can be analysed and compared against known optical systems to provide a means of identification. Alternatively su ch information can be used as a method of quality control when constructing precision optical instruments such as telescopes or microscopes.